This yarn is in the lighter range of aran (size 4 in the US) at 2.23 yards per gram. It’s very hard to get the same gauge with something like Red Heart Super Saver which, although also in the aran weight range, is heavier weight and makes a stiff project when worked to the same tension. Red Heart With Love is closer but still heavier. Berroco Vintage Chunky is closer to the right weight and is classified as a heavy worsted at 2.17 yards per gram. Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Worsted is very close at 2.20 yards per gram. It feels like the Stylecraft is a heavy worsted rather than aran, but it’s right there on the cusp. It’s not difficult to find online either. Try Wool Warehouse. I have shopped with them many times.

Gauge

After round 4, approx. 3.5″
After round 8, approx. 7″

Special Stitches

Front Post Double Crochet (fpdc): Yarn over, insert hook to the side of the indicated stitch, move hook around the back of the stitch and out the other side of same stitch, yarn over, pull loop through, [yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook] twice.

Front Post Treble Crochet (fptr): Yarn over twice, insert hook to the side of the indicated stitch, move hook around the back of the stitch and out the other side of same stitch, yarn over, pull loop through, [yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook] 3 times.

Back Post Double Crochet (bpdc): Yarn over, with hook in back of work, insert hook to the side of the indicated stitch, move hook around the front of the stitch and out the other side of the same stitch (hook is in back of work again), yarn over, pull loop through, [yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook] twice.

Round 5: Ch 2 (counts as first hdc), *sk 3 dc, fptr around next 3 dc (mark dc of third fptr with stitch marker), working in front of previous 3 fptr, fptr around 3 skipped dc, hdc in marked dc, remove stitch marker, rep from * to last 6 dc, sk 3 dc, fptr around next 3 dc, working in front of previous 3 fptr, fptr around 3 skipped dc, sl st to top of beg ch-2: 56 sts.

Round 6: Ch 1, 2 bpdc around same st as joining, *fpdc around next 6 tr, 2 bpdc around next hdc, rep from * to last 6 tr, fpdc around next 6 tr, sk initial ch 1, sl st to first dc: 64 dc.

Round 7: Ch 1, 2 bpdc around first dc, bpdc around next dc, *fpdc around next 6 dc, 2 bpdc around next dc, bpdc around next dc, rep from * to last 6 dc, fpdc around next 6 dc, sk initial ch 1, sl st to first dc: 72 dc.

Round 8: Ch 1, bpdc around first dc and next 2 dc, *fpdc around next 6 dc, bpdc around next 3 dc, rep from * to last 6 dc, fpdc around next 6 dc, sk initial ch 1, sl st to first dc: 72 dc.

Round 9: Ch 1, bpdc around first dc and next 2 dc, *sk 3 dc, fptr around next 3 dc, working in front of previous 3 fptr, fptr around 3 skipped dc, bpdc around next 3 dc, rep from * to last 6 dc, sk 3 dc, fptr around next 3 dc, working in front of previous 3 fptr, fptr around 3 skipped dc, sk ch 1, sl st to first dc: 72 sts.

Round 10: Ch 1, bpdc around first dc and next 2 dc, *fpdc around next 6 tr, bpdc around next 3 dc, rep from * to last 6 tr, fpdc around next 6 tr, sk initial ch 1, sl st to first dc: 72 dc.

Rounds 11-12: Ch 1, bpdc around first dc and next 2 dc, *fpdc around next 6 dc, bpdc around next 3 dc, rep from * to last 6 dc, fpdc around next 6 dc, sk initial ch 1, sl st to first dc: 72 dc.

Rounds 13-24: Rep rounds 9-12.

Change to smaller hook for remainder of hat.

Rounds 25-28:: Ch 1, fpdc around first dc, *bpdc around next dc, fpdc around next dc, rep from * to last dc, bpdc around last dc, sl st to first dc. Fasten off after last round.

The short single crochet can take practice to complete. That “back back” bar can be a little tight. To make it easier, before you begin a short single crochet round, use a smaller hook, like a size C, to stretch out the loop a bit. Just go all the way around, pulling that horizontal bar out a little on each stitch then go ahead with the round.

Due to the striping of the colors, I’ve decided to join each round instead of working in a spiral.

Special Stitches

Short Single Crochet (ssc): With the right side still facing you, insert hook from top to bottom under the “back back” loop of the stitch indicated. It isn’t the regular top two loops. It’s the horizontal bar below the traditional back loop. The name seems to be changed every 10 years or so. I’ve been using it in patterns for over 20 years and I’ve always called it short single crochet. Later, I saw that some people called it camel crochet and recently, it’s been called third loop single crochet. Check the Notes section for a tip to make this stitch easier.

Long Half Double Crochet (lhdc): Skip two rounds, make hdc by inserting hook from bottom to top under the two loops of the single crochet directly below those two skipped rounds. Just reach down there and make a hdc. It will draw the rounds together and is what gives the faux cable appearance. Skip the sc in the current round (the one behind the hdc you just made).

Instructions

Round 1: With white, ch 2, 8 sc in second ch from hook, sl st to first sc: 8 sc. Tighten the center by pulling carefully on the loose strand. This is basically a “magic loop” without all the fuss.